<p></p><p>By Ashery Mkama <br></p> <p>THE government unveiled before the National Assembly here measures taken so far to contain diseases that affect cashew nuts in Coastal Region, Mkuranga District in particular. <br></p> <p>Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development, Mr William Ole Nasha, said that after learning about the disease in the areas, the ministry directed experts to analyse and identify the source, preventive measures and treatment. <br></p> <p>After the analysis, he said, it was discovered that the disease was caused by fungus of Fussarium wilt type. He disclosed that currently the ministry's Naliendele Research Institute was going on with tests for the disease cure. <br></p> <p>The deputy minister was answering a question by Abdallah Ulenga (Mkuranga-CCM) who wanted to know the measures the government was taking to compensate the citizens from Magawa and Msonga Wards in Makumbaya, Magawa and Msonga Villages. <br></p> <p>According to the MP, about 1000-acres of cashew nuts from the said villages have been affected by the disease, leaving the citizens with nothing. <br></p> <p>He, therefore, requested the government to consider compensating the villagers as had been done to others with similar disaster. <br></p> <p>In his response, the deputy minister said that the available means of assisting farmers as per the government procedure was to distribute crop seedlings to the affected areas after getting the actual need from the district council.<br></p><p></p>